It seems two big fights are in the works for later this year.
The first is a light heavyweight dust up between Callum Smith and David Morrell. Smith, the WBO interim title holder, was ordered earlier this month to defend his title against Morrell. Morrell is coming off of a split decision victory over Imam Khataev on July 12, while Smith has not fought since his 12-round thriller with Joshua Buatsi back in February.
Smith was in talks to face WBC 175lb champion David Benavidez, who also defeated Morrell in February, but his countryman Anthony Yarde pipped him to the fight that will land on November 22 in Saudi Arabia.
The second fight is a junior welterweight title fight between WBC champion Subriel Matias and mandatory challenger Dalton Smith. Smith has been waiting patiently for his shot as the WBC No.1 ranked challenger for some time, and was ringside for the recent title fight between then-champion Alberto Puello and Matias. Matias got the nod in a close fight that night and Smith was invited into the ring afterwards with Riyadh Season/The Ring boss Turki Alalshikh declaring the two would fight next.
Callum and Dalton Smith’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealed to reporters on Monday that negotiations for both bouts are now well underway.
“Yeah we've been talking to PBC [about Smith-Morrell],” Hearn said. “As we are about Subriel Matias-Dalton Smith – finalizing that as well. Callum Smith's up for the David Morrell fight. Obviously he'd prefer it to be for a world title rather than his interim, but it's a great fight. We're negotiating that fight now with PBC and [Turki Alalshikh], and hope to wrap up Callum Smith-David Morrell and a final confirmation of Subriel Matias against Dalton Smith very soon.”
